If you have recently been charged with a DWI in New Jersey, you may have to install an Ignition Interlock Device in your car. Please read on and reach out to our experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney to learn more:
What is the purpose of an Ignition Interlock Device?
Oftentimes, when people are convicted of DWIs in New Jersey, the courts will demand they install an Ignition Interlock Device in their vehicles. Essentially, the Ignition Interlock Device connects to the steering column in the vehicle and requires the convicted individual to blow into the IID to test his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC). If their BAC is over 0.05%, the vehicle will not start.
This device saves many innocent drivers from encounters with drunk drivers on a daily basis. Additionally, you should note that though you may think you can cheat the system simply by asking a sober friend or family member to blow and start the car, this will not work. Once the car is in motion, it will require you take additional intermittent breaths into the device. If you fail to do so or blow above the legal limit, the device will record it, issue a warning and set off an alarm until you have fully stopped the vehicle.
How do I know if I will receive an Ignition Interlock Device?
If you have been convicted of a first-offense DWI with a BAC over .08%, you will most likely have to install an Ignition Interlock Device in your car for at least three months, though potentially for even longer if you were arrested with a BAC higher than .10% or .15%. You may also be required to install and use the Ignition Interlock Device if you refused to submit to chemical testing upon being pulled over for suspected drunk driving.
Additionally, if you are someone who has received a second DWI conviction, you may have to use the device for the duration of your license suspension, as well as for up to three years after your license has been reinstated. This also applies to individuals who are convicted of their third DWI charge or the repeated refusal to submit a breathalyzer test. Lastly, if a judge orders you install the Ignition Interlock Device and you do not, there is a very good chance that the judge will extend your license suspension another year.
Contact our experienced New Jersey firm
Thomas DeMarco & Associates, LLC is an experienced Camden County criminal defense law firm located in Mt. Ephraim, New Jersey. We understand how potentially damaging a criminal can be, which is why we pride ourselves in our willingness to fight for our client’s rights. Our firm handles all criminal matters and is ready to provide you with our knowledgeable legal counsel. Do not hesitate to contact our firm to discuss your legal situation.
